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Sunday, May 07, 2006

7-game streak says something about everyone

The Phillies' bats have come alive during their seven-game winning streak. Here's why.

--- Chase Utley: This homestand has taken on the same qualities as the 12-1 homestand of a year ago, and Utley formed the centerpiece of that streak, too. Remember it was against San Francisco that he blasted that game-winning grand slam, which the Phils seem to use as a springboard the rest of the way? Here, he’s had the biggest hits the last two nights. In addition, you’d take his glove over just about every second-baseman in baseball. Why: Utley has replaced Abreu as the Phillies' best all-around player.

--- Aaron Rowand's explosive rant last night wouldn’t have happened the first week of the season. No evidence for this, but Rowand has made his compatriots more aggressive. They’re arguing more, they’re in the face of officials, and one would assume they will get more calls their way because of it. Why: Rowand has broken in his new uniform like an old pair of jeans.

--- Pat Burrell has his share of home runs and RBIs, but he isn't playing smart overall baseball. After a hot start, Utley has now tied him for the team lead in RBIs (23). Why: The chewing tobacco is scrambling his brain.

--- Jimmy Rollins: The Phils are 14-5 in games J-Roll has scored a run, and he has crossed home plate in each of the games during this winning streak. Why: J-Roll is the catalyst.

--- Mike Lieberthal will be out the next two weeks with a bone bruise, so Sal Fasano and Carlos Ruiz will be split time in his place. Ruiz had a dynamite throw to second last night that nailed Randy Winn trying to steal, but went 0-3 in his debut at the plate. Fasano will start tonight’s game with Jon Lieber on the hill. What: The race for the backup job heats up.

--- David Bell had those cavernous splits against right-handed and left-handed pitching in '05, but check out this season: .182 BA, .598 OPS against left-handers, .257 BA, .702 OPS against right-handers, including 2 of his 3 home runs. Why: "Platoon" isn't the right word; "part-time" is.

--- Bobby Abreu: His BA (.277) and SLG (.511) are down, but his OBP has held steady around .450. He’s walked 11 times during the winning streak. Why: Not unusual for Abreu to get lost in the shuffle during exciting winning streaks.

--- Ryan Howard: Howard was protected last season against LHP and bad matchups, and the reason for that was beginning to show up until the Braves series. The Phils faced a rare string of left-handed pitching in Pittsburgh and Florida, and Howard was kind of floundering, at the plate and in the field. In the John Thomson game, he came back strong and got three RBIs and a home run. On Friday night, he went deep twice. Why: Howard still has work to do, but has displayed a good ability to adjust.

--- Shane Victorino has been the top hitter off the bench and came into the game last night and stroked a double. On the season, he’s quietly gone 8-for-25 (.320 BA) with a good OBP (.393). Why: International League MVP is nothing to sneeze at.

--- Last but not least, hell if this seven-game winning streak didn't start after Charlie Manuel's hokey tirade in Florida. Why: Pure coincidence.

9 Comments

Bats have come alive over this 7 game winning streak, but to me the big story is the relief pitching led by Tom Gordon. Gordon has 4 saves over this winning streak and he has not given up a hit or earned run in his last 8 appearances going back to April 19th. This is probably the most dominant stretch of relef pitching by a Phil I can recall. In the last 7 games, the Phils relievers have given up only 1 earned run over 20 innings. The pen is getting the job done.

Agreed that pitching is the biggest reason for it (just didn't feel like writing on it this morning). The veterans in the rotation have settled in, and it's a major plus that the team was able to plow through Floyd and Madson's starts and keep the streak going. Relief pitching as you've mentioned has really turned it around, not to mention Cormier. It helps that the starters are going deeper into games, but what Gordon and the rest of the pen has done has been exceptional.

Bullpen and improved offense have been the keys to the winning streak. Still, the starting pitching is struggling besides Myers and Lidle.

Madson must have sacrificed a bucket of KFC to Jobu last night to only give up 1 run over 6 innings. He was awful the first 3 innings but somehow the inept Giants didn't score. Madson should be given another 3 or 4 starts. If he can't show something, he needs to go to the pen.

Most discouraging thing about Madson is his lack of control. He has now has more BBs than Ks with a WHIP over 2. Ugh.

Mets are starting to look really thin in their starting rotation too. Zambrano is done for the year and they have a few other injuries. So desperate for a starter today they recalled Josa Lima. Funniest thing about Lima is that his age is 33. Try +5 years.

Good points MG. As much as the game last night was entertaining, Madsen was very lucky -- helped by several double plays and a caught stealng. The Phils really need Lieber to pitch better to have any chance to win this division.

John Lieber has the perfect opportunity to pitch "his" game tonight. National audience, against the offensively challenged Giants, and with the Phils in the midst of a 7 game win streak that he would like to see continue. His big thing has been "the inning". He still has good stuff like the old Lieber, he just shows the new flabby one for at least an inning a start and it haunts him. Time to pitch a quality game the whole way through, and by that I mean 7 strong innings.

Santana is back with the team now. He needs to prove himself quickly, because Booker (minor league strikeout artist) doesn't have much more time left and the Nats would take him back in a heartbeat.

I like the fact that the bench-at least the Victorino/Dellucci part of it-is starting to hit. This should mean Manuel can rest Burrell more. If the Phils can straighten out the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation, they can beat the Mets, with their age, dubious rotation, roster spots wasted by Franco and Inning-Endy Chavez, and the sheer Metness that surrounds them. I see the Mets as a team likely to have a weak second half. If the Phils are within 5 or 6 games come July 1, they've got a good shot.

As of now, the Mets rotation is Martinez, Glavine, Trachsel, bum, bum, and the first three are all older and/or injury prone. The Mets can't possibly keep up their current pace throwing Jose Lima and Darren Oliver out there every time through the rotation.

Going to my first game of the season tonight! Will anyone else be there? So excited, I'll take my camera and get some pictures.

Jeez, Cole Hamels. He could be the difference-maker if it gets close for the Phils in the division. And suddenly, it's getting closer. I still can't gst used to the fact that they're a good team again. They were horrible for an entire month, and boom, 8-game win streak.

Too bad they're off tomorrow. You don't want anything interrupting a roll like this. Bring on the Mets!